Nicholas Yellenti (1894-1991)

Nicholas Yellenti was born in 1894 in Pittsburgh to Joseph and Madeline DeMarco Yellenti and died on July 19, 1991 in his hometown of New Bedford, MA.

Mr. Yellenti had a very distinguished career as an artist, interior decorator and stage designer for Hollywood and Broadway. His boyhood interest in art was given a boost when one of his paintings was spotted in a music store window by George A. Hough, then managing editor of the New Bedford Standard Times. He later spent several summers painting at the Hough home on Martha's Vineyard.

Mr. Yellenti was a 1915 graduate of the former Swain Free School of Design and finished his training at the School of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

He received his start in theater scene design by painting scenery for Lester Lonergan, a local theater impresario, at the old Hathaway Theater in New Bedford. He went on to work for four years as art director of the Civic Theater in Toledo, Ohio.

He went on to New York where he designed sets for 125 Broadway productions. His early stage design credits include, "White Cargo" and "The Jazz Singer" which starred George Jessel. He worked with such directors and producers as Sam Harris, David Belasco, Earl Carroll, Henry Miller and Max Gordon.

Mr. Yellenti maintained a studio in Manhattan through the 1930's but moved to Hollywood during World War II. He began to develop his talent as an interior decorator and worked on the West Coast for Paramount and Columbia Studio's.

He traveled extensively in Europe during the 1940's and 50's.

Mr. Yellenti's work has been shown in exhibitions including The Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington, D.C. and Palm Springs, CA. He retired to Yucca Valley, CA.

Source:            AskART.com